Dennis Dixon says Eagles are having an open QB competition

Posted by Josh Alper on February 18, 2013, 3:17 PM EDT

AP

Quarterback Dennis Dixon officially signed with the Eagles on Monday and spoke to the media after signing the deal.

The big question for Dixon was whether he is in Philadelphia to compete for the starting job or if he’s there because his familiarity with head coach Chip Kelly makes him an ideal player to help school the rest of the team on the offense. When the Eagles announced they’d reached agreement with Dixon on a two-year deal, the team’s website said he’d be competing with Trent Edwards for a backup role.

Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Dixon said he’s here to compete for the starting quarterback job with Michael Vick, Nick Foles and anyone else who might turn up with the Eagles this season. Dixon said that he feels a knee injury has limited his development and hopes to kickstart it playing for Kelly, who he believes can be a great success in the NFL.

There’s a long way to go until the start of the 2013 season and the Eagles aren’t close to done making moves, which makes it a bit early to start forecasting what role Dixon or anyone else will wind up playing. He’s bought into what Kelly’s selling, though, so he’s got that going for him.

He won’t be the opening day starter but if Vick flames out (very possible) or gets hurt (likely), Foles isn’t the best fit for Kelly’s system. The Egales have so many problems that they ought to trade Foles to address one of them. They ought to trade him while his value is high like the Patriots did with Matt Cassel. So, we could see Dixon in the starting lineup by Thanksgiving…

I have little doubts that whoever emerges at the top of what will be the most brutally competitive QB competition since Rodgers-Favre will become the next great Philadelphia Eagles QB. Chip Kelly is a smart man. He accepted the job knowing the amount of underutilized talent on this team.

Dixon didn’t say that. You did. Or, Zach Berman did, but I have not seen where Dixon said those words (your headline). It’s second hand info from Zach who said it was Dixon’s understanding.

bobbyhoying says:Feb 18, 2013 4:25 PM

How could any fan be excited about the chaos that is the Philadelphia Eagles? Maybe Kelly will succeed. Maybe he wants two years of NFL money like Spurrier got before he quit. Best wishes to Andy Reid and Clark Hunt.

@bobbyhoying: No one knows if Kelly will win in Philly but be assured it’s not about the money. The Nike guy was ready to pay him whatever it takes to stay at Oregon. In addition to that, in college he’s the king on campus and doesn’t have to deal with FA and pesky salary cap issues. The only *sane* reason to give that up to be a rookie in the NFL is the challenge.

thesmartestmanever says:Feb 18, 2013 5:05 PM

I wonder if he’ll bring a gazillion different uniforms with. huh, whatcha think? I want to be on the sidelines when training camp opens and he’s trying to convince 30 year old millionaires that they must run wind sprints five times a day.

Kelly’s offense is like running the wildcat all game long so even Dixon who had one foot out of football has a very legit chance to play in Philly. They will need a bunch of QBs just to get through the season.

Sky is the limit? So is the ground.

If everyone is buying what Chip Kelly is selling, they’re dillusional.

“He’s bought into what Kelly’s selling, though, so he’s got that going for him”

That’s probably ALL he’s got going for him. In five years in the league he was still on the Raven’s practice squad. That alone speaks volumes about his level of talent. But he may be right in that he’ll be in an open competition for the starting job. Its not entirely clear that the Eagles have anyone better at QB right now. Dixon may have as much of a chance as anyone else in camp to win the job.

@dallascowboysdishingthereal –Your opinion automatically does not matter as you are a Cowboys fan.
I think you are delusional (notice the correct spelling) if you believe that Chip Kelly will bring his entire Oregon office to the NFL If he was the hot commodity during the offense season which he was then he is smart enough to realize that he needs to make changes to his offense in the NFL in order for it to work.
I think it is really ironic that a Cowboys fan will call another team delusional (again please notice the correct spelling). For example it is delusional to believe that Tony Romo will ever get the Cowboys to a NFC Championship game or SuperBowl. It is delusional to believe that the Cowboys will be anything then average team with Jerry Jones as General Manager and Owner.

Lol. There may be an open competition but Dennis Dixon ain’t winning it.

mrphatal says:Feb 19, 2013 11:12 AM

Dennis,
You have been in the league like 5 years, and couldn’t beat out Charlie Batch In Pttsburgh for a Job or even get off the Ravens practice squad. What makes you think you will beat Vick or Foles? Your Job will be like Doug Petersons to McNabb, teach the lingo for a year or so and then end your career on Buffalo’s practice squad.

steelerben says:Feb 19, 2013 1:14 PM

I think people are looking past Dennis Dixon a little too quickly. He spent a few seasons on a bench behind Big Ben, and he certainly wasn’t going to win away that job. Then he was injured headed into free agency. Obviously a backup quarterback coming off of IR isn’t going to draw a ton of interest.

He was on the practice squad of the Ravens and helped the defense prepare to win a world championship. It is hard to argue against that value.

The biggest concern with Dixon is his durability. Vick shares that drawback, and also has a penchant for turnovers, an inability to read a defense, and when the chips were down threw his team under the bus. I’ll take Dixon out of those two all day.

@themermen – I do not agree. Their offensive line should be better with the return of Herremans, Peters, and Kelce from injury. Their biggest problem is on the defense especially in their secondary. They need to fix the defense first.

eaglesnoles05 says:Feb 19, 2013 6:51 PM

does anyone remember what dennis dixon looked like when he played? If i remember correctly- awesome. Dude’s been hurt and on a team where the starting qb is a golden god. I wanna see him get a shot.

eaglesnoles05 says:
Feb 19, 2013 6:51 PM
does anyone remember what dennis dixon looked like when he played? If i remember correctly- awesome. Dude’s been hurt and on a team where the starting qb is a golden god. I wanna see him get a shot.
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Finally a sane voice amongst madmen. Cannot believe its from a Eags fan.